Sandals workers yet to know their fate

With three weeks left before the closure of the Sandals Grande Antigua Resort and Spa, to facilitate maintenance work, employees are still uncertain about their future.

One worker told OBSERVER media, that they are hoping that things will work in their favour as no one has come forth to let them know what will happen to them during the closure.

“We don’t know if we should try to get another job, or anything; it’s just a wait and see business,” the worker said.

“The union met with us in July and told us what can be done but nothing concrete was said to us. So, our families, bills and everything for the next three months is just hanging on hope.”

However, Chester Hughes deputy general secretary for the Antigua and Barbuda Workers Union (ABWU) is appealing to the workers to continue to exercise patience as discussions are still ongoing.

“We are in dialogue with the employer and we are working out a package for the employees and as soon as it is completed they will be contacted,” said Hughes. He further explained that discussions of these kind take time but hopefully by next week employees should know their fate.

In July, Sandals announced they would be closing for five months to carry out maintenance work on the property after 25 years of unbroken service. That time was reduced to three months to begin on September 20 with the proposed reopening being December 17 this year.